Manually operable handle mechanism for panel mounted devices



Feb, 1970 M'JQ WA SILE KI ,49

} MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE MECHANISM FOR PANEL MOUNTED DEVICES Filed Ju1y'l5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v v- TOR, NORBERT d. Was/1.55m Y RM M;

ATTORNEY MANUALLY OPERASLE HANDLE MECHANISM FOR PANEL'MOUNTED DEVICE; Filed July 15, 1966 I 1 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VE N TOR. NORBERT d. WA SILESKI A TTO!?NE Y United States Patent 3,496,320 MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE MECHANISM FOR PANEL MOUNTED DEVICES Norbert J. Wasileski, Farmington, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed July 15, 1966, Ser. No. 565,631 Int. Cl. H01h 3/04, 9/28, 33/52 US. Cl. 200172 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to manually operable handle mechanisms for enclosed electrical devices, and more particularly to handle mechanisms of the type including means for interlocking with a panel part to prevent unauthorized access while the handle is in the ON position.

In a particular type of electrical control panel structure, as shown and described, for example, in my copending application Ser. No. 447,336 filed Apr. 12, 1965, now Patent No. 3,308,348 entitled Switchboard With Separate Line and Load Mounting Blocks and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, mounting of electrical control devices against the rear wall of the compartments of the electrical control panel structures is provided. This facilitates the making of electrical connection to the devices since the rear surface of the control devices, to which the mounting connections are made, all lie in a predetermined common plane regardless of the type of control device being employed. However, the vari ation in height of the devices creates a problem insofar as external operation of the control devices is concerned since the distance from the inside front surfaces of the compartment to the front surface of a mounted control device varies with the height of the device. Although adjustable-length handle extensions have been proposed, such handle extensions do not provide means for substantially completely closing the Opening in the front cover, nor do they provide the important function of interlocking opening of the door of the enclosure while the switch is in the ON condition.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, there is provided an enclosed electric control device assembly comprising a handle mechanism which, although being supported on a control device mounted at the rear of the compartment, includes a portion having its front surface flush with that of the panel structure compartment. Therefore, access may be readily had to the handle mechanism for the purpose of operating the control device connected thereto. Provision is also made for locking the handle mechanism by means of a padlock, or other suitable means, in either of two positions which correspond to the ON and OFF positions of the control device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a pair of interlocks are provided which are selfcontained or integral with the handle mechanism. The first of these, which is in the nature of a defeatable interlock, prevents opening the cover door of the panel structure compartment when the electrical control device is in the ON condition. The other of the two interlocks is utilized for the purpose of preventing two control devices ice mounted side by side from being thrown to the ON condition at the same time. There is also provided, integral with the handle mechanism, a means for locking this latter interlock by means of a padlock, or other suitable means, in either the ON or OFF position.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an enclosed electric control device assembly incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle mechanism of FIGURE 1 shown with the enclosed electric control device, the latter being illustrated in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the handle mechanism of the present invention shown supported on an electrical control device with parts broken away and illustrating various possible positions of the handle;

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing particularly the defeatable interlock of the handle mechanism of the present invention, with parts broken away and illustrating two possible positions of the handle and defeatable interlock;

FIGURE 5 is a side view showing particularly a keyoperated lock cooperating with the handle mechanism of the present invention and showing two positions of the lock bolt;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the switch operating mechanism of the present invention shown supported on an electrical control device, the latter being illustrated in dotted lines;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of two handle mechanisms, each in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the sliding bar interlock associated therewith; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the sliding bar interlock illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an enclosed electric con trol device panel assembly is shown comprising a switch operating mechanism 10 housed in a compartment or enclosure 11 of an electrical control panel structure. The compartment 11 is in the form of a rectangular enclosure 12 having a hinged cover 13. The cover 13 which closes the front of the compartment has an opening 14 therein which is closed by a front plate or escutcheon 17 of the mechanism 10.

The basic components of the operating mechanism 10, as seen for example in FIGURE 2, comprise a bracket or support member 15, a handle adapter or gripping member 16, an escutcheon 17, and a knob 18.

Extending outwardly from opposite ends of the back wall of the bracket member 15 are flange portions 19-. Suitably spaced screw holes 20 are provided in these flanged portions for the purpose of securing the bracket member to an electrical control device 21 by suitable means such as by means of screws 22. The openings 23 in the control device are utilized to receive the screws 22. The back wall or base portion 24 of the bracket member is provided with an opening 25 through which the handle portion 26 of the control device 21 extends, when the bracket member is secured thereto. Supported on upstanding side portions 27 of the bracket member are a pair of stop members 28, which are provided for a purpose to be described later. Either of the openings 29 which are located in the side portions 27 of the bracket member may receive the plunger portion 30 of the key-operated lock 31 in a manner to be described later in connection with FIGURE 5 of the drawings.

The handle adapter 16 has a body portion 32 which is tapered so as to fit the handle of any of the various control devices normally housed in electrical control panel structures. When the wings 33 of the adapter are tightened by means of screws 34, teeth (not shown) located in the interior of the body portion 32 bite into the control device handle ensuring a tight connection.

Interconnecting the handle adapter 16 and the knob 18 is a screw member 35. This member extends through an opening 36 suitably located in the escutcheon 17. Serving as a protector for the screw member 35 is a concentric sleeve 37, best seen in FIGURE 3.

The escutcheon 17, which is of a non-metallic material, has a raised central surface 39 surrounded by a flange 4!). By making the escutcheon out of a non-conducting material, the need for a ground is obviated. When housed in a compartment as shown in FIGURE 1, the raised surface 39 fills the opening 14 in the cover 13 and makes a flush fit with the front surface of the compartment. The flange '40 is then in abutting relation with the inside front surface of the compartment. Extending outwardly from the raised surface 39 is a tapered protrusion 41 formed with an opening 42 therein. The taper of the protrusion or wall 41, which is shaped so as to correspond to the knob 18 is, to permit the knob to move past the protrusion as the screw member 35 moves in the opening 36.

An applique 43 carrying suitable legends, i.e., ON, OFF, etc., is located on the outer surface of the escutcheon in paralleling relation to the opening 36, as seen for example in FIGURE 2. By noting the position of the knob 18, and the legend on the applique corresponding thereto, it can be readily determined Whether the control device 21 is ON, OFF, etc.

The knob 18 may be provided with a decal 44 indicating the rating of the control device 21, if desired. Further, the knob 18 may be locked in any given position by utilizing the opening 42 in the protrusion 41. This opening will readily accommodate a padlock 45, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, such that the hasp of the padlock will interfere with the sleeve 37, which encloses the screw member 35, or the knob 18.

In the assembled condition the escutcheon 17 is affixed to the bracket member by means of screws 46 emplaced in the screw holes 47, 48 provided in the escutcheon 17 and the bracket member 15, respectively.

The extent of movement of the screw member 35 is limited by the stop members 28, which as noted previously are supported in the side portions 27 of the bracket member 15. This is best seen with reference to FIGURE 3 wherein the two outermost positions of the sleeve-enclosed screw member are shown in dotted lines. Although the handle of the electrical control device is limited in its travel, the employment of the stop members 28 minimizes the possibility of breaking the handle of the control device if excess force is applied to the knob 18. In the absence of the stop members 28, the ends of the opening 36 in the escutcheon 17 would function to limit the travel of screw member 35. However, this would be undersirable, inasmuch as the escutcheon is made from a non-metallic material and would also be susceptible to breakage.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, this figure shows how the addition of a spring 46, an arm 47, and a catch 48, provides a defeatable interlock. Such an interlock would normally be employed where, as in the embodiment illustrated, the panel structure compartment includes a pivoted or hinged cover 13. In those instances where the front surface is secured to the rest of the compartment by means of screws, no such interlock would be needed.

A guide formation 49 is provided in the escutcheon 17 which guides the arm 47 for sliding parallel movement with relation to the inside front surface of the compartment 11. One end of the arm 47 is provided with an opening 50, shown in FIGURE 3, through which sleeveenclosed screw member 35 passes.

The spring 46 which surrounds the sleeve 37 and which extends between the handle adapter 16 and the arm 47, biases the latter against the inner urface of the escutcheon 17. The arm 47 follows the motion of the sleeve-enclosed member 35 and when the latter is in the ON position, the arm 47 engages the hook portion 51 of the catch arm 48. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the catch 48 is affixed to the inside surface of the cover 13 of the compartment 11 in the manner such that it may be rotated against the bias of spring 52. When the electrical control device is in the ON condition, the cover is prevented from being opened because of the inner engagement of the arm 47 and the hook portion of the catch arm 48. However, this interlock may be defeated by inserting an appropriate tool in the opening 53 provided in the catch arm 48, and rotating the catch arm against the bias of spring 52 in order to free the hook portion 51 of the catch arm from its engagement with the arm 47. As shown in FIGURE 1, the opening 53 is accessible from the outside of the compartment 11.

In FIGURE 5, there is shown a key-operated lock 31 which may be utilized with the handle mechanism of the present invention. The lock 31 is mounted on the inside of the cover 13 adjacent to the bracket member 15 of the handle mechanism. The particular opening 29 employed for this purpose is dependent on which side of the bracket member the lock is located. When in the dotted position, as shown in FIGURE 5, the plunger 30 will obstruct the movement of the wings of the handle adapter 16, thereby causing the control device 21 to be locked in a given position. The movement of the plunger 30 is controlled by means of a key (not shown) inserted into the opening 54, which is accessible from the outside of the compartment 11 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Where control devices are employed in side-by-side relation, as shown for example in FIGURE 7, it is often desirable to include an interlock there-between whereby both of the devices cannot be in the ON condition at the same time. To provide for this in association with the handle mechanism of the present invention a sliding bar interlock 55 is utilized. This interlock, as best seen in FIGURE 8, consists of a flat metallic plate 56 having an upstanding portion 57 associated therewith, and a plurality of interference portions 58.

A bracket 59 is employed for mounting the interlock 55 to the outer surface of the compartment 11 in the manner shown in FIGURE 7. The interlock is slidably supported on the bracket 59 by means of a stud 60 which slides in slot 61 provided in the surface of the interlock 55.

In operation, one of the interference portions 58 on either side of the interlock is aligned so as to be slidable into the opening 42 provided in the protrusion 41 of each of the escutcheons 17. Now with reference to FIG- URE 7, it can be seen that in order to move the knob 18 of the handle mechanism 10A to the ON position, the interlock 55 must be moved to the right. However, this can only be accomplished if the knob 18 of handle mechanism 10B is in the OFF position, for otherwise this knob would be in the path of movement of the interference portion 58. Similarly, before knob 18 of handle mechanism 10B can be moved to the ON position, knob 18 of handle mechanism 10A must be moved to the OFF position. Thus, the sliding bar interlock 55 serves as a positive means of preventing the knob 18 of the handle mechanisms 10A and 10B from bein in the ON position at the same time. A pair of openings 62 are provided in the portion 57 of the interlock, and there is an opening 63 in the bracket 59 with which either of the openings 62 may be aligned. The sliding bar interlock 55 may be locked in a given position by passing the hasp of the padlock (not shown) through the opening 63 and whichever of the openings 62 is aligned therewith.

While the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a lock and two possible interlocks, it will be readily appreciated that the handle mechanism may be used with or without such lock or interlocks without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, various other modifications of the invention may obviously also be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, I intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An enclosed electric control device assembly comprising:

(a) an enclosure having front and rear walls;

(b) an electric control device in said enclosure mounted on said rear wall and having a manually operable handle projecting therefrom, said handle being reciprocally movable along a straight-line path between ON and OFF positions;

(c) said control device having a height of substantially less than the distance between said front and rear walls of said enclosure, whereby said handle of said control device is spaced a substantial distance from said front wall of said enclosure;

(d) said front wall of said enclosure having a generally rectangular opening therein;

(e) a supporting bracket mounted on the front surface of said control device;

(f) a generally rectangular insulating escutcheon member mounted on said bracket in spaced relation to said control device and positioned against the inner surface of said front wall of said enclosure and substantially closing said rectangular opening therein said escutcheon member having an elongated slot-like opening therein;

(g) handle extension means connected to said control device handle and extending through said elongated opening in said escutcheon member, said liandle extension means having a manually engageable portion outside of said enclosure at the front of said escutcheon member.

2. An enclosed electric control device assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle extension means comprises a relatively thin rod and said manually engageable portion of said handle extension means comprises an enlarged insulating member mounted on said rod.

3. An enclosed electric control device assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said front wall of said enclosure comprises an openable front cover; said control device assembly also comprising:

(b) a locking member slidably mounted on the inner surface of said insulating escutcheon member and a catch member carried by the inner surface of said front cover of said enclosure, said locking member being movable between an interlocking position in which it extends into interlocking relation with said catch member and a non-interlocking position in which it is out of engagement with said catch member;

(c) means interconnecting said handle extension means with said locking member whereby said locking member is moved to said interlocking position when said handle extension means is moved to said ON position, thereby preventing opening of said front cover of said enclosure when said electric control device is in said ON condition.

4. An enclosed electric control device assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said front wall of said enclosure comprises an openable front cover;

(b) said handle extension means includes a relatively narrow rod portion extending through said opening and said manually engageable portion of said handle extension means comprises a relatively large insulating member mounted on said rod; said control device assembly also including:

(c) a locking member slidably mounted on the inner surface of said escutcheon member, a catch member mounted on the inner surface of said front cover, said locking member being movable between an interlocking position in which it is in interlocking engagement with said catch member on said front cover and a non-interlocking position in which it is out of engagement with said catch member; and

(d) a compression spring surrounding said relatively narrow rod portion of said handle extension means and bearing against said slidable locking member and urging said slidable locking member against the inner surface of said escutcheon member, whereby to slidably guide said lockin member for movement between said interlocking and non-interlocking positions as said handle extension means is moved between said OFF and ON positions.

5. An enclosed electric control device assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said escutcheon member comprises a generally rectangular planar molded insulating member having an integral upstanding formation at the front thereof extending substantially at right angles to the main portion of said planar molded insulating member, said upstanding formation being positioned closely adjacent said opening for said handle extension means and having an opening transversely therethrough to receive a locking member in a position such that a portion of said locking member obstructs movement of said handle extension means between said ON and OFF positions.

6. An enclosed electric control device assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting bracket includes a pair of spaced stop portions, said handle extension means engaging said stop pOrtiOns at each extremity of movement of said handle extension means, whereby movement of the handle extension means is limited and said handle extension means is prevented from causing excessive strain on said handle of said electric control device.

7. An enclosed electric control device assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supporting bracket comprises a generally U-shaped sheet metallic member having a bottom portion mounted in flatwise engagement with said front surface of said control device and a pair of upstanding opposed generally planar side portions, and a pair of stop members extending between said opposed side portions, said handle extension means engaging said stop portions at each end of travel of said handle extension means whereby to prevent said handle extension means from exerting excessive force on said manually operable handle of said control device.

8. In combination with at least a first and second electrical switching device, each including a housing having a planar front surface and a manual operating handle outwardly extending therefrom;

said manual operating handle movable in a first direction between first and second operative positions;

a handle interlock extending between said housings and selective positionable in the paths of movements of said operating handles;

said handle interlock consisting solely of a mounting means and a slide means;

said mounting means retaining said slide means for slidable movement along the planar housing front surfaces in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction;

said slide means including abutment means for preventing movement of the operating handle of one of said electrical switching devices from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions when the operating handle of the other of said electrical switching devices is in a predetermined operative position.

9-. In the combination as set forth in claim 8:

said electrical switching devices being circuit breakers;

said first and second operative positions corresponding to circuit breaker ON and OFF conditions, respectively;

said slide means including a portion positionable at a first location to permit the manual operating handle of one of said circuit breakers to be moved to the ON condition, said member when at said first location preventing movement of the manual operating handle of the other of said circuit breakers to its ON condition.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 8:

said electrical switching devices being circuit breakers;

said first and second operative positions corresponding to circuit breaker ON and OFF conditions, respectively;

said slide means including a portion positionable at a first location to permit the manual operating handle of one of said circuit breakers being in the OFF condition, said member when at said first location preventing movement of the manual operating handle of the other of said circuit breakers to its OFF condition.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 8:

said electrical switching devices being circuit breakers;

said first and second operative positions corresponding to circuit breaker N and OFF conditions, respectively;

said slide means including portions positionable to permit the manual operating handle of either one of said circuit breakers to move into one of its operative positions and when so positioned preventing the manual operating handle of the other of said circuit breakers from moving into said one operative position.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 8:

said electrical switching devices being circuit breakers;

said slide means movable between a first position in which the manual operating handle of said first circuit breaker is freely movable between its first and second operative positions and a first abutment surface of said slide is in the path of movement of the manual operating handle of said second circult breaker for preventing movement thereof from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions, and a second position in which the operating handle of said second circuit breakers is freely movable between its first and second operative positions and a second abutment surface of said slide is in the path of movement of the manual operating handle of said first circuit breaker for preventing movement thereof from one of its operatwe positions to the other of its operative positions.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 12:

said first and second circuit breaker operative positlons corresponding to circuit breaker ON and OFF conditions, respectively;

said slide means when in said first operative position preventing movement of the operating handle of said second circuit breaker from its ON conditlon to its OFF condition, and when in said second oper ative position preventing movement of the operating handle of said first circuit breaker from its ON condition to its OFF condition, such that only one of said circuit breakers may be moved to the OFF condition.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 12:

said first and second circuit breaker operative positions corresponding to circuit breaker ON and OFF conditions, respectively;

said slide means when in said first operative position preventing movement of the operating handle of said second circuit breaker from its OFF condition to its ON condition, and when in said second operative position preventing movement of the operating handle of said first circuit breaker from its OFF condition to its ON condition, such that only one of said circuit breakers may be moved to the ON condition.

15. In combination with at least a first and second electrical switching device, each including a housing and a manual operating handle outwardly extending therefrom;

said manual operating handle movable between first and second operative positions;

a handle interlock extending between said housing and selectively positionable in the paths of movement of said operating handle;

said handle interlock including means for preventing movement of the operating handle of one of said electrical switching devices from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions when the operating handle of the other of said electrical switching devices is in a predetermined operative position;

said electrical switching devices being circuit breakers;

said circuit breakers positioned such that said manual operating handles are each moved in a first direction between their first and second operative positions;

said interlock means including a slide movable in a second direction, transverse to said first direction;

said slide movable between a first position in which the manual operating handle of said first circuit breaker is freely movable between its first and second operative positions and a first abutment surface of said slide is in the path of movement of the manual operating handle of said second circuit breaker for preventing movement thereof from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions, and a second position in which the operating handle of said second circuit breaker is freely movable between its first and second operative positions and a second abutment surface of said slide is in the path of movement of the manual operating handle of said first circuit breaker for preventing movement there f from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions;

said slide including means for receiving a lock and locking said slide in a selectable one of said first or second positions.

16. In combination with at least a first and second electrical switching device, each including a housing and a manual operating handle outwardly extending therefrom;

said manual operating handle movable between first and second operative positions;

a handle interlock extending between said housings and selectively positionable in the paths of movement of said operating handles;

said handle interlock including means for preventing movement of the operating handle of one of said electrical switching devices from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions when the operating handle of the other of said electrical switching devices is in a predetermined operative position;

said electrical switching devices being circuit breakers;

said circuit breakers positioned such that said manual operating handles are each moved in a first direction between their first and second operative positions;

said interlock means including a slide movable in a second direction, transverse to said first direction;

said slide movable between a first position in which the manual operating handle of said first circuit breaker is freely movable between its first and second operative positions and a first abutment surface of said slide is in the path of movement of the manual operating handle of said second circuit breaker for preventing movement thereof from one of its operative positions to the other of its operative positions, and a second position in which the operating handle 3,496,320 9 10 of said second circuit breaker is freely movable be- References Cited tween its first and second operative positions and a UNITED STATES PATENTS second abutment surface of said slide is in the path of movement of the manual operating handle of said 3,086,092 4/1963 Poulton 200-50 first circuit breaker for preventing movement thereof 5 3,122,681 2/1964 PPSCh from one of its operative positions to the other of its 3,272,953 9/1966 Tlllson 200-172 Operative Positions; HERMAN o. JONES, Primary Examiner further including means for guiding the movement of said slide in said second direction, between said first U S C1 X R and second positions. 10 20050 

